Synthetic track for JC?

Jamaica College (JC) could join Calabar High and Kingston College (KC) as locations for synthetic tracks for athletics.

That's the word from Ian Forbes, the chairman of the JC sports committee. Forbes said his school had been contemplating the acquisition of such a track for some time.

Speaking in the wake of announced work by KC to install a synthetic track at its Melbourne campus.

Forbes said: "It's something we have considered over a long period of time and I think the will is there to do it."

He continued: "There's nothing wrong with the natural surface, but as you know, the sport has moved rapidly and we must change with the time.

"It's certainly under consideration," he reiterated.

The Dark Blues' spacious 189 Old Hope Road campus could comfortably accommodate a synthetic replacement for its existing 320-metre grass surface, he noted.

"It's just a matter of mobilising or completing the process of mobilising the requisite resources," he estimated.

FUNDS RAISED

According to figures released last week, the KC track will cost $58 million. Calabar High School, the first high school to install such a facility, raised $55 million to complete the works earlier this year.

In 2011, JC inaugurated an innovative five-runway jumps facility, which has helped the school to prominence in the long and triple jumps. Since then, the school has also built and equipped a top class gym.

Forbes, who is the manager of the JC football and track and field teams, knows raising that amount of cash will be a challenge, but is confident.

"It will always be a challenge," he evaluated. "But you know we have a rich history and tradition, and we have a committed alumni as well.

"It will have to be all hands on deck," he said in a call to JC alumni and friends of the school.

"It is possible, most definitely and it will happen."

Jamaica College, KC and Calabar have dominated the male section of ISSA Boys and Girls' Championships since it was first contested in 1910. Jamaica College last won in 2011 to bring its total of team titles to 21. Kingston College has been on top 31 times, with Calabar first on 26 occasions.